Monday, 11th February 2008

Defending champion thrilled with '500 pole.

Jimmie Johnson admitted he was proud of the whole Hendrick Motorsports team after securing pole position for the 2008 running of the Daytona 500.

The double NASCAR champion posted a best time of 48.109secs during the Bud Pole qualifying session to secure top spot for the second time, edging out the Toyota of Michael Waltrip to secure his place at the head of the field.

"I am just real excited to see everything from the off-season come together," he said. "We had a great test session.

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"To come down here with a car that was in the wind tunnel and worked on and completed when we were down here testing, to see it come together with its first laps yesterday with a strong run right off the truck; to build on that, find some more speed and lock down the pole today, says a lot for the team and the preparation, I just couldn't be more proud of my crew guys and everyone at Hendrick Motorsports for not losing anything over the off-season.

"They have been very committed and working, from the shootout to today's qualifying effort we have been where we need to be."

Johnson admitted that securing pole would take some of the heat off going into the big race itself, but denied that he would be the favourite going into the event.

"I don't think so," he said. "Maybe one of, but until we get out in the draft and see how these cars work, that is really the true test of whose car is going to be where. We know we have the fastest single car, so we will carry that over in to the draft and hopefully it sucks-up well and handles well.

"I think handling is going to be a premium. It is that fine balance of handling and straight-line speed. You don't get one with the other, so you have to trim it out and balance that back and forth."

Crew chief Chad Knaus was equally pleased to sit up front on the grid, with Johnson now secure in his place on the front row.

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